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Observation: Weber Canyon

Observation Date
1/14/2014
Observer Name
jg
Region
Uintas » Upper Weber Canyon » Weber Canyon
Location Name or Route
South Fork of the Weber
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Nice day. Felt cold when the the sun was behind the clouds.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Not much cracking or collapsing but some. Some sensitive wind drifts but not moving far. Did not see many signs of a natural avalanche cycle.
Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
10,100'
Slope Angle
25°
Comments

Had a good look into the alpine terrain but didn't see much in the way of avalanches, although my view was from the west looking east so I wasn't able to see a lot of east facing slopes. Nonetheless, I was thinking I would have seen more naturals.

The new snow instabilities seem to have settled out. My CT tests were mostly failing at the ground (SC) and some just under the rime crust (Q1). Columns were failing with easy to moderate effort.

Rime from the west winds but not substantial enough to form a crust. (First photo)

Encountered a few wind slabs. (Second photo)

I saw these two slides off in the distance. The one on the right may have been from control work from the Park City Powder Cats. The slide on the left is in terrain they generally do not ski. These were on SSE aspects.

Things are settling out but if you did trigger an avalanche it would most likely be big and ugly. I would still air to the side of caution on steep slopes on the north half of the compass or any slopes with an easterly component.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable